his soule to the ioyes that ar euer abiding Therewithal he faynting in a swoune grewe straight to be speachlesse Gasping breath who did yeald with a pale face and body senselesse Whose soule imparadiz'd I belieue is with the Creator Our Lord Emmanuell our Christ and sole mediator Who when he had regaliz'd 3. yeares and credibly twenty Tomb'd in a faire monument at Windsore lies in an abbey How that he dy'd many men did doubt For he dy'd on a suddayn Sundry by surfet afirm'd which no body knew to be certayn But many thought that he was put away by the vile priuy treason Of tyranus Richard by the meanes of some sory poyson As Sir Thomas More in his owne book skilfuly penned Thought by the speach that he learn'd that he was sure priuily poysned And not a thing vnlyke For he spared no body whose life Might dominire as a King whose life might work him a mischiefe He was a vile Machauile and still tooke time at a vauntage To work such stratagemes his lew'd mind gaue him a courage Similie As wax is molify'd and clay made hard by the sun-shine So to the word of God good mens hearts daily wil enclyne But lewd are hardned by the word Such obstinat error Permaneth in reprobates whose end is damnable horror Description of Edward the fowerth This valiaunt Edward was a Prince of a beawtiful aspect Whose face shyn'd with a faire sanguine complexion indeckt Whose yelo burnished haire did shyne like glorius amber Similies Whose gray eyes twinkling like starres did cheerefuly glister Comelines of person very tall of bodily stature Exquisit euery part was featured and of a nature Merciful and liberal whose stout hart bouldly by wisedom And politick valiaunce of right did atayn to the kingdom He was a Prince patient in great prosperity pleasant And not at all arogant in great aduersity constant Not timorus wauering to steadfast friend very faithfull To fra'dulent enemyes seâ—ere implacabel hatefull Fortunat in warfare but somewhat gi-uen in excesse To womanish daliaunce as his hystorie plainly doth expresse This stout king Edward many times would say that he lov'd well Three speciall paragons in seu'ral gifts who did excell First was wily by kind but an other seem'd to be godly Shores wife was meriest as a woman void of al enuy The iust and lawfull title that Richard Duke of Yorke father to king Edward made to the Crowne of England RIchard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke rightly the garland Sought by law to regaine his right to the Crowne then of England And he preferred a byll to the nobil common asembly Grafton fo 757. et 758. Held at Westminster Where after merciful Henry Namely the sixth his death they all there iointly together Graunted by parliament Gaue this Realme to the Duke his right heires in the remainder But this stout Richards stout lucklesse mynd was vnabel For to prolong so long but in end was slaine in a battell Neare to the towne Wakefield and left here these many children Edward George Richard all three well knowne to be brethren And yet he sware many times by solemne othes Stow. fol. 944. fol. 972. that he neuer Would any treason atempt or against him raise any power His three sonnes whom I nam'd were like three Martial Hectors All of a stoutnes alike on anothers glory detractors This foresaid Richard to the foresaid fortunat Edward Was father vndubitate sonne and heire namely to Richard Stout Earle of Cambridge Who maried Dame Anne sole heire and daughter of Edmund Mortimer Earle of March Richards neece namely the second So that he was by the lawes right lawfull heire to the Kingdome Which Edward did ataine by force and partly by wisdome Henry the fourth did vsurpe and put downe wrongfuly Richard Second King by name at Pomfort slaine by the coward Sir Pierce of Exton who strake him downe as a butcher Striketh an ox on his heade Wo worth so shameful a monster This trecherus bludy Duke did bring eight tal men in harnesse Grafton fol. 412. Henry 4. Each man a bill in his hand like thieues to murder his Highnesse Who with a bill that he got by force did manfuly withstand Those Machauile hypocrites for he kild foure men with his owne hand Till that he was struck downe by the Knight who leapt in a chay-er Like crauenus coward to repose him selfe from a daunger The Second booke of the tyranny and vsurpation of king Richard and how king Henry the seauenth when he was Earle of Richmond was preserued in his time A praier I He that here doth a peale to the sacred seate of a Kingly Kingly tribunall throne of a King celestial only Only the King of Kings the triumphant Lord God imortall Three persons one God deifi'd with glory coequall Humbly before thee my God that King Lord God of heauen Wholly my selfe prostrate giue eare O Lord to me listen Ephe. 2.5 8. Sanctify me by thy grace and iustify me by thy mercy For by the grace of God comes our saluation only Graunt that I may paraphrase stout Henries glory to publish And to promulgat abroad King Richards tyrrany diuelish I He that only before in Romane rythmery verses Did modulate with a thinne oten pype fortunat Henries Flight that he made to the Duke with his vncle there in a safety Both to remaine for a time till time should prooue to be friendly Which was a worke of thanks But now now murtherus horror And Machauile stratagemes I record of a lewde malefactor That did vsurpe as a king that killed his owne very brethren Murdered his Nephues wife and many â—â—ores or a sudden Mournefuly Muse manifest the detested deedes of a tyrrant Monster of all mankinde whose sinnes to the world ar aparant With salt watery teares this wofull tragedy pensill Teares from a sabel penne of direfull Ebony distill I to the clowdes seeke not to mount like Icarus in sky Ouid. poeticè Nor like proud Phaëton with a minde presume to be lofty Witty Thales maiden that saw him looke vp on heauen And in a ditch to decline he is wel seru'd quoth the maiden For that he looked aloft when he should haue lookt on his owne feete Looke not aloft sily Muse but shew thy selfe to be discreet Here I do meane to declare O Queene how shamefuly Richard That Duke of Gloster but a younger brother of Edward Lately the King did ataine to the Crowne and dignity regal Trewly my minde doth abhorre that I should here make the recitall What Machauile policies what shifts what crafty deuises What tyranus stratagemes he deuis'd to crucifie Princes First of al here to beginne he stab'd and kill'd with a dagger Grafton fol. 713. Edw 4. Henry the sixt when he was safe kept as a prisoner in Tower For that he considered King Henries life was an hind'rance Both to the King and him by the which they wanted asurance Therefore he did this fact
fro thy word that I may in minde as a Christi'an Glorify Christ crucifi'd to detest that sect of a Pagan Sanctify me my Iehoue in Christ I repose al afiance Therefore I humbly beseech of thee my Lord an asistance Grant that I may Poetize that credibil history written By Sir Thomas Moore of an english story the maiden For why The learned knight wrote that that he knew to be certaine Trouth with his art to deline credit of both safely to maintaine For that he was then aliue in Court in prime of his young yeares And by that experience that he knew and learned of others By good inteligence he reseru'd for his historie faultlesse Thereby the truthe to deline quite voide of flattery doubtlesse Which when he had manupend in briefe prose skilfuly finnisht Streight he the same to be knowne in print did apoint to be publishâ— In which book I do meane by the grace of God to deliuer Nothing els but a trouthe gods name and glory to further Nor with a penne that is hyr'd I write verse smoothly to compile Similie Like glauering parasite with a veile lewde states to depensile If so that enuy repine and slaundring tongues do calmunize Trouth wil in end be my praise and shame the reward to the diuelish Feare not at all sil-y Muse to report so thankles an errant Boldly declare to the best their faults trouth shal be thy warrant This Knight Sir Thomas was made Lord Chaunceler after Who was knowne to be learn'd of a chiefe assembly the speaker Grafton He both lost his life of his office made a refusall For that he would not agree to the Kings supremacy regal My Muse incouraged first praising God as a giuer Of all good benefits these words she began to deliuer North Soueraigne Phoenix thou stout Queene famus Eliza Of grace and sapience peerelesse Prince sacred Idea Deigne with a gratius eye to peruse O Christian Empresse This prety booke manupend manumiz'd to thy gratius Highnesse Al you earthly Kings you Kings aduenturus hearken You States pontificall with atentiue eares to me listen You Lords imperiall of her Highnesse wise priuie Counsel Whose sapient wisdomes to record my wits are vnabel You Lords in generall that atend in Court on a Princesse Only the worlds Soueraigne lend listning eares to my verses You Catholike Diuines graduat diuinity Doctors Which be the sauory salt of Gods word liuely professors You sapient Senators of Innes of Court that are ordain'd To minister Iustice by the Queenes authoritie constrain'd Arts reuerent amatists of both * Figure Vniuersity famus Whose Orient fine wits of Romane verse be desirus Deigne to beholde this verse although it seeme but a trifel For many times you see that a pearle is found in a Muskel Similie Here I do meane to recite how our Queenes Grandfather Henry That King magnanimus with a stout and conquerus armie With valerus chiuisance did a tyrrant manfuly conquer Richard lately the King that vile and shameful vsurper Henries fame to report in scanning verse as I purpose Prince Edward stratagiz'd and Richards tyrrany disclose Grafton When stout King Edward at a field neere Teuxbury gotten Where Queene Marg'ret was with her eld'st sonne forcibly taken Nam'd to be Prince Edward which was there bluddily murdred By tyranus Richard And she sent prisoner to London where she remained Till that her owne father had that french Duke nam'd to be Reiner Of Sicyl also the King with a raunsome kindely redeem'd her When Iasper stout Earle of Pembrooke natural vncle Vnto this Earle Richmond when he knew how stoutly the battel Was fought and manupriz'd and saw all things to go backward How stout Earle Warwick was slaine by conquerus Edward And how Henry the sixt in Towre safe kept was abiding How London citizens disdain'd him now to be their King How his confederates and frieends grew weaker on each side And how King Edward himselfe and his cosen enui'd Wittily considering as a wise Earle sought to preuent it Both their liues to preserue where they might safer inhabit In peril ambiguus that course is best to be taken Sentence Which shal auaile to do good In time priuy danger is holpen As by the sequel apeares Mindfuly Muse memorize first how this vertuus Henry Saued aliue many times by the Lords protection only Came to the Crowne as a King here sent by the Lord his apointment Sent to the Realme as a Prince that should here make an atonement Exampels in diuers places of the Bibel For Gods sacred elect are straungely preseru'd by the Lord God Our Lord and Sauiour was sau'd from murtherus Herod From the Lyons Daniel from strength of mighty Golias Holy Dauid Ioseph from brethren faithful Elias From wicked Iesabel that younger godly Tobias Sau'd by the Lords Angell and was not trustily Ionas Kept in a whales bely safe three nights God sau'd Machabeus Noe with his owne families was sau'd from destiny grieuus Exod. ch 2. v. 6.7.8.9 Moses throwne in a flagge to be drown'd was sau'd by the daughter Of tyranus Pharaoh manumiz'd to be nurst by the mother Israel and Shadrach Meshach with Abednego likewise Grafton fol. 712. Edw 4. Gods diuine prouidence his blessed will wil acomplish First when he was but an Earle he being then but of young yeares Was by the Lords prouidence preserued from many dangers And peril of losing his life and life of his vncle Martial Earle Pembrocke who behau'd himselfe as a nobel And valiant Chiuali'r when they were like to be taken By Roger hight Vaghan whose craft was speedily foreseene And he the said Vaghan who thought them surely to murder Grafton fol. eodem Rightly receiued a death that he purpos'd falsely for other Those fraudulent Iudges that acused falsly Susanna Rightfuly were condemn'd by the Prophet sent by Iehoua Worthily ston'd to death as they had wrongfuly iudged Godly Susanna to die thus God th'vngodly rewarded History of Susanna Ester And on a Gallow tree that proud presumptuus Hamon Rightly was hang'd that aledg'd to guiltlesse Mardoche treason This foresaid Vaughan was charg'd by the King his apointment For to aprehend those Earles but he therein mist of his intent Each self-will of a King or commaund is not a godly Thing to be done For a Prince enraged fiercely with enuy Seekes to do wrong causelesse which God will auenge in his anger For God on high God aboue knowes all for he plagues an ofender Marke what a chaunce foloed These Earles fled thence to the Castel Grafton Of Pembrooke who were eftsoones pursu'd by the subtil Fierce Morgan Thomas who the Castel strongly besieged Enuironed with a trench yet they were safely preserued By Dauid ap Tbomas who the siege rais'd yet very brother Vnto the said Morgan Can men gods purposes alter 1. Sam. ch 20. ver 35 c. Was not godly Dauid by the meanes and faithful atonement Of Ionathan preseru'd from
King Saules murderus intent Henry the sixt propheci'd who this Earles state very fauor View'd for a while noting his Princelike witty behaui'or Lo this is he for a trouth that in end shall surely by wisdome Grafton fol. 692. Edw 4. By valor of Knighthood and stoutnes ataine to the Kingdome This good King as a Prince inspir'd did prophecy trewly For what he told proou'd trew by gods reuelation only For God alowes his elect seuerall gifts Euery perfit Good gift comes fro the Lord by the gift of gods very spirit Iam 1.17 For the Prophets propheci'd of Christ God gaue his Apostels Maruelus and strange gifts as he gaue his glorius Angels 1. Pet. 1. v. 10.11 Now to my matter againe These Earles safely preseru'd durst not stay there any longer But got away in al hast from thence for feare of a danger Like as a light foote Roe from quick-sent houndes to the greene wood Similie Lustily bounceth away to saue life skips on a maine scud So these Earles got away from thence to Timby that hauen Towne in Wales to the which by constraint luckily driuen They made prouision for shippes And like as a Swallow Similies Quickly the skyes doth sheare or rather like as an arrow Flies from a strong mans bow So they from thence with a Nauie Grafton fol. 713. Edw. 4. Sail'd to the Duke Francis who receiued them both very friendly Faithfuly them promising that they should haue his asistance For to do them pleasure and what they wanted alowance Where these fortunate Earles in great security liuing Safely remained a while King Edwards anger auoiding Ioyfuly there passing their time where he with his vncle Highly regarded at Armes at Tylt and Turnee did excell Tempora mutantur c. Euery time hath a chaunge we in times mutabil alter Gods will prescîent prescribes a determinate order His great glory to raise Can mindes associat to kingdomes amity foster Or perfit louers can they riuality suffer In Lucan Caesar could not abide to be submisse or to be loyall To valiant Pompey that acounted no man his equall Euery King hath his heyre or next to the Crowne in a suspect For that he thinks that he will not proue so trew as a subiect Loue to be Kings and Kings breed brothers mutual hatred Sentence No faith obseruing like tyrrants set by no kindred Can faith and falshoode in selfe same seat be resiaunt Sentence Such contrarieties are placed flatly repugnant Marke what a chaunce hapned that counter-checkt in a moment All their Courtly delights to their cleane contrary Iudgement For when as Edvvard namely the fourth did know for a certaine That these venturus Earles were sailed safely to Brittaine Vnto the foresaid Duke and there liu'd friendly together Highly regarded of him nor at all did feare any danger Grafton fol. 715. Edw. 4. These sory new tydings did aflict his minde not a littel For that he thought those Earles might bring him quickly to trubbel Embassadors therefore to the Duke he sent of a purpose With graue discretion his message wisely to disclose Who did acomplish his heasts like wise States made many proffers Vnto the Duke promising large gifts and bountiful offers So that he would vouchsafe those English Lords to deliuer Vnto whom immediate this Duke thus framed an answere So to do it were not requisite nor stood with his honnor But least that those Lords should seeke elswhere any succor To preiudice their King he deuis'd to seclude them asunder With vigilant persons to be safe kept one from another And from them to remoue each Page and euery seruant Which was an English man that there were on them atendant Answered in this sort they toke their leaue with obeisance And so return'd to the King to shew their faithful atendance Who when he heard these newes he beleeu'd that he stoode in a safety His minde was quieted quite freed from factius enuy Therewithal he to the Duke forthwith then wrote in a letter How that he would him yearely reward with thankes for his answer Friendly requesting him that he would those words but acomplish Which of his owne free will he did so faithfuly promise See what a suspitius minde works how greedines of gould Princelike mindes doth ataint by force of flattery contrould Like as a sulphurus heate encompast round lyeth hollow Similie Clos'd in a vapory clowd there struggling striues for an issue Which with a straunge rattling with a rumbilo lowd flashy thunder Filles th'element with a noyse and center of earth with a wonder So priuy suspition conceiued in heart with a fury Breedes great displeasure and raging cankerus enuie Ouid. Principijs obsta Scrò medicina paratur c. For when King Edward had better pondered all things He that had experience sought first to preuent the beginnings Least that he might be depos'd When a wound with mallady festreth And growes inueterate that sore what surgery cureth When nature vanisheth which cannot worke any longer What medicine can auaile mans former health to recouer Flexibil at first is young tender tree to be bowed Growne by continuance very bigge disdeignes to be moued For when he considered that rightly this Earle fro the lynage Sprouted of Henry the sixt then he sought for a further auantage Grafton fol 73◠Edw 4. For that he knew wel inough if that there were any liuing Righteus heire to the Crowne that lin'aly came from his ofspring Might bring his Diademe and regal scepter in hazard Therefore againe to the Duke he charg'd graue men to go forward Doctor Stillinton with two more sent with a treasure Once yet againe to present his Grace more largely to pleasure If that he would but alow and permit curteus Henry Nam'd Earle of Richmond with them to returne in a safety For speciall causes that their King bountiful Edward Would ioyne in mariage wherein then he seem'd to be forward Elizabeth to this Earle which was wel knowne to be daughter To their liege Soueraigne which luckily fortuned after Thereby this Earle might haue those landes that he claim'd in asurance If that he were maried so nere to the King in alyance And so the King stood sure that none might make any tytel Vnto the Crowne but he might all forraine faction expel They in al hast get away their message wisely to transpose Who to the Duke at large each particularity disclose When that he their message did know he paus'd for a good while What was best to be done since th' Earle liu'd there but in exile But when he considered that he should be matcht with a Virgin Their owne Kings daughter to be linktin league with his owne kinne Where that he might be prefer'd to some great dignity present There as an Earle or a Duke to rule by the King his apointment First he began to deny but pleas'd with treasurie giuen What with soliciting and gould so gainfuly gotten Kindly
Knight to the Duke his whole minde wofuly distrest Plainely without any guile or dissimulation exprest Lastly by perswasions this wise Duke rul'd by the Counsell Of good Iohn Chewlet who this Earles state knew to be feebel Sent Peter Landoyse chiefe Treasurer only the foresaid Embassadors to delay that th' Earle might safely be conuai'd Vnto the Sanct'ary there which was with speede then efected Which so delighted his heart that his health there quickly reuiued Like as an Hart in a chace that is hurt or pincht with a greyhound Similie Bounceth away on a maine and runnes most swiftly to get ground Yer that he should b'imbost fro the greyhound speedily doth get And priuy lewnes in a brake imbaies himselfe in a thicket There to recouer his hurt So this Earle escapte from a daunger Liu'd in a place priuiledg'd his former health to recouer Would to God euery Prince that ruleth in euery Kingdome Would be so rul'd by the good wise counsell and by the wisdome Of plaine trouth-speakers and also that euery Courti'er Would not aledge any lyes to the Prince to defame on another Now to my matter againe When these Embasadors perceiu'd they were so deluded Grafton fol. 739. Edw 4. Both of an Earle their prey and of gould freely deliuer'd Tould Peter Landoyse their king would take it in ill part They to retorne so deceiu'd of their Earle and mony homeward But Peter Landoyse assured them that he should be Safe in a sanct'ary kept which they would warily foresee Or to be streightly detein'd in a safer custody forthwith So they neede not at all to doubt or feare any mischiefe They pacifi'd by the meanes of Landoyse curteus answere Thought it a folly to stay in Brittain Realme any longer But willed Landoyse to the Duke their duty remembring Those promises to be kept their leaue there then fuly taking Who promised that he would So these Embasadors sail'd thence and landed in England Grafton fol. 755. Edw. 4. And there tould to the King each chiefest point of his arrand Who when he heard their speach perswaded partly by reason How that he should be detein'd there safe or safe in a prison He not at all fearing th'intendment of fory persons Shew'd himselfe as a Prince more bountiful vnto the Commons And liberal to the poore But time his course hath time staylesse daiely doth happen Sentences With swift breach curelesse with gould not againe to be gotten O wauering fortune when thou seem'st most to be smiling Poeticè Mutabil intendment meanest and mischievus ending Euery time hath an end O worldly varietie neuer Knowne to remaine constant What is here that permaneth euer For stout king Edward when he found himselfe to be sore sick And when he thought that he was in a manner past any physick Streight to the Queenes kindred did send on away in a poste-hast Grafton fol. 760. fol. 761. Edw. 5. Vnto the Lord Riuers whom he knew to be firme to be stedfast And to the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlaine then of England And to the Lord Marquesse whom she first had by her husband Named Sir Iohn Gray which was made knight in a battell Fought at Saint Albons and there was slaine who did excell In valor of Knighthood Willing them to repaire to the Court with speedines eftsoones And to resort to the King for diuers and many reasons VVho to the Court in al hast did come who courtly saluting Were resaluted againe on another semblably greeting Euery Lord that came to the Courte by the King his apointment VVent to the Kings presence When he saw them there to be present He took them by the handes though inward panges with a sorrow Greatly molested his hart and vnderset with a pillow Spake to them as foloeth My Lordes and kynsmen your presence hartily welcom King Edwards last will or admonition to the Queene his children and Nobility Whose frendshippes I found more sure to me than a kingdom My life is but a blast I feele death woful aproching And I reioyce that I haue my freendes here at my departing My body wasteth away I fynd my self to be feebel Also my blud to decay I feele my self but vnabel For to pronounce many wordes Therefore my Lordes to me listen Concord in friendship be faythfull vnto my chyldren And to my Sonne your Prince I charge you for to be loyall Safe to preserue his Grace to defend this Realme vniuersall For the Cicil tyrrants could find no greater a torment Then cruel enuy that hagge which fosters deadly reuengement Seneca in Epist lib. 14. Marcus Agrippa declar'd that small thinges daily by concord Eftsoones grow to be great and great thinges fondly by discord Quickly declyne to ruine Plutark in reg Apo. theg Stob. ser 82. That graue ould sapient Scyllurus nam'd Chironensis Fowre score sonnes who begate when he lay sick thus did he publish Euery one deare sonnes in his hand here take but an arrow And break them forthwith Which they did speedily But now Each on a sheafe of shaftes my sonnes take forcibly break them Which to do each did asay but could not Then with a solemne Similie Speach thus he spake As you could not them break So my children Trew fyrme and constant coniunction of many brethren No body can dissolue Therefore liue frendly together If so be you seperate your selues each one from an other Then shall your enemies as a prey snatcht vp of a Tyger You disagreeing so with a small force easily conquer So my beloued Lordes if you by malicius enuy Shall fall at variaunce which of you standes in a safety Prosperus are Kingdomes publick weales statefuly florish Sentence Where States concording do perfect amity stablish But when a Realme disagrees that Realme is seene very seldom Long to remaine a Monarche For certaine euery Kingdome Hatefuly disseuered fayth and tranquillity wanting Turned is vp side downe ruinus disconsolat ending Hate doth a Realme ruinate Therefore my Lordes I beseech you Euery one to be frendes my precepts duly to follow Euery Lord by the hand there present tooke on an other Who did apeare to be frendes though their heartes were far asunder And then he spake to the Queene sore greev'd who mournefuly looking Teares from hir eyes gusht forth as bubbling blobbes from a welspring Farewell dearly belov'd your children charily cherish See them well to be bred with good and singular aduise And you my children be dutiful vnto the mother Vse these your kinsmens counsayle in stead of a father For litel yong children should wisely be rul'd by the counsayle Of wity graue Senators whose fame and vertue doth excell And with a sorroful hart his children sadly beholding Stretched his hand to them all these same wordes faintily speaking God blesse you children farewell Lordes dearly beloued Who with trickling teares sad sighing wofully mourned And then he held vp his handes to the Lord his mercy beseeching And to receiue